Cuvée du Vatican Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2015

Top critic Robert Parker once said of this domaine that he loved the “powerful, rich, in your face style of wine” it made. That’s due to the tiny yields Jean-Marc Diffonty ekes out from his meticulously tended vineyards of gnarly old vines. His family can trace their wine-growing history back to 1673. They owned just two hectares of vines at the start of the 20th century but steadily built up their holdings and in 1958 launched the Cuvée du Vatican label with the blessing of the Pope. Jean-Marc is an ambitious young winemaker, keen to retain the excellent reputation of his Châteauneuf estate. His wines display extraordinary ripeness and concentration, elegance and poise. Decant and serve with roast lamb or an aromatic, herby ratatouille.